Recent Locations

Popular Locations

Rain, Flooding in China Prompts Evacuations

By By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

June 20, 2011, 4:36:07 PM EDT

Share this article:

Heavy rain that has fallen over a wide portion of Southern China affecting or displacing over 5 million people.

"The heaviest rain occurred Friday over the provinces of Hubei, Anhui and into Jiangsu," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, Dave Samuhel. "The city of Shanghai had more than 5-inches of rain since Friday and Macheng China has had more than 8-inches."

Chuhsien City, located in east-central China, had more than 8-inches of rain in a 36-hour period that ended Sunday evening local time. Tan Hsien, south of Shanghai, had a total of 9.47-inches.

In the downtown area of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, the streets are flooded and vehicles are stranded, according to News.xinhuanet.com. As of Sunday, Wuhan had a total of 6.54-inches of rain.

In the southern Guizhou province, eight people have died from rain-triggered events. Two of which were killed by lightning strikes.

Damages related to the floods and building collapse are estimated to be more than $884 million, according to the AP.

More than 170 people have died since the beginning of June.

"The heaviest of the rain is over but rain will continue until Sunday morning," said Samuhel. "The rain will clear out later in the day Sunday and it should remain dry for a few days."